August 25, 2008
Florida Ag In The Classroom Selects 23 Volunteer Grants For Funding For 2008
Students around Florida will develop bio fuels, learn about commodities produced in their areas and participate in a state-wide Arbor Day program, among other programs, as part of 23 volunteer grant projects Florida Agriculture in the Classroom, Inc., has selected for funding for 2008.
The non-profit association based in Gainesville approved grant projects around the state, many of them to be carried out by University of Florida/IFAS Extension and 4-H programs, county Farm Bureaus, local fair organizations, middle school and high school agri-science programs and other non-profit organizations. It will spend more than $24,000 and project organizers estimate they will reach more than 63,000 students statewide as part of these projects.
“This hard-working group of agriculture industry volunteers helps Florida Ag in the Classroom reach even more students and teachers with the message of the importance of agriculture,” said Cara Martin, chairman of Florida Ag in the Classroom and assistant director of government and community affairs for Florida Farm Bureau.
“By providing them with grant money, these volunteers can tailor agriculture-related educational programs to the needs of their schools and communities,” Martin said.
Florida Ag in the Classroom uses proceeds from the sale of the agriculture specialty license plate, or the Ag Tag, to fund its teacher and volunteer grants programs, among other Florida Ag in the Classroom programs.
The organization is now accepting applications for Teacher Grants for the 2008-09 school year. The application and guidelines are available on Florida Ag in the Classroom’s website at www.agtag.org and the deadline is October 1.
The 2008 Volunteer Grant projects are as follows:
Egg’Citing Experiments in Chicken Embryology
Baker County 4-H will educate elementary and middle school students about an aspect of Florida agriculture by studying the science of embryology.
Clay County AgVentures 2008
Clay County Extension will teach third graders about the commodities produced in their area by allowing them to visit stations featuring dairy, eggs, citrus and poultry and other commodities as part of an AgVenture field trip.
Clay County 4-H Embryology Program
Clay County 4-H will teach second graders about animal life cycles by having FFA middle school and high school students present lessons on quail production and embryology.
A Day in the Life: Duval County Farmers
Duval County Extension will teach elementary school students about the Florida beef, dairy and horticulture industries by having them visit a summer camp.
Agriculture in Jacksonville or Growing Into Agriculture on the Southside
Duval County Extension will educate elementary school students about Florida agriculture by having them grow vegetables hydroponically at their school and participate in Florida Ag in the Classroom lessons.
2008 Flagler County Ag Ventures
Flagler County 4-H will teach fourth graders about commodities produced in their area such as potatoes, cabbage, sod, beef and dairy as part of a field trip.
I Can Grow a Garden
Flagler County Extension and Family Nutrition Program will educate first and third graders and exceptional education students about Flagler County agriculture by expanding Bunnell Elementary School’s raised bed gardening area.
Sassy Cows for Savvy Kids
Riverview High School agri-science students in Hillsborough County will teach exceptional education students about Florida agriculture and the Florida dairy industry by having these exceptional education students raise their own dairy heifer.
First Time Farmers
Jackson County 4-H will teach first graders about row crop and livestock production in Jackson County by having them participate in classroom activities and field trips.
Riverdale High School Agriculture Education Improvements
Riverdale High School agri-science students in Lee County will learn about Florida agriculture by redesigning existing raised bed gardens and growing Florida vegetables and herbs.
Leon County 4-H Ag-Aventure Days
Leon County 4-H will educate elementary students about Florida agriculture by having them participate in classroom activities involving citrus, dairy, poultry and strawberries and listen to agriculture industry speakers.
Fun Day on the Farm
Chiefland Middle School agri-science students in Levy County will teach kindergarten students about Florida agriculture by having the younger students visit stations featuring citrus, beef, dairy, peanut, swine and strawberries at their school.
Embryology Project
Liberty County High School agri-science students will teach exceptional education students about Florida agriculture by having the exceptional education students participate in an embryology project.
Fun on the Farm
Southeastern Youth Fair will teach elementary students in Marion County about commodities produced in their area by having them visit stations featuring dairy, citrus and beef, among other commodities, at the fair.
Growing Up with Hydroponics: Overcoming Limited Resources in Agriculture
Marion Technical Institute agri-science students will learn important agriculture-related science lessons by growing horticulture products hydroponically.
Producing Biodiesel as a New Way of Recycling
William H. Turner Technical Arts High School Agriscience Academy students in Miami-Dade County will learn about alternative fuel sources by participating in a project in which grease left over from school lunches and local fast food restaurants is used to make bio fuels.
Arbor Day: A Celebration of Florida Trees!
Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association (FNGLA) will teach elementary students statewide about the importance of the Florida horticulture industry by having them participate in an Arbor Day Celebration in which schools receive vouchers for trees for their schoolyards.
Worms are More Than Bait
Liberty Middle School agri-science students in Orange County will learn about the importance of using different kinds of waste materials to fertilize soil, including a worm decomposition farm.
Polk County Cattlewomen Ranch, Beef and Agricultural Awareness Program
The Polk County Cattlewomen will educate elementary students about the Florida beef industry by developing a traveling exhibit that explains important information about the beef industry and beef byproducts.
A Child’s Eye View: Gardening Through the Eyes of a Child
Santa Rosa County Extension will teach elementary and middle school students about horticulture production in their area by developing a demonstration garden at the Santa Rosa County Extension Office.
St. Johns County Ag EdVentures
St. Johns County 4-H will teach fourth-graders about commodity production in their area by having them participate in a field trip where they will visit stations featuring potatoes, aquaculture, beef and dairy.
Agriculture Day for All Fifth Graders in Taylor County
Taylor County Extension will educate fifth graders about commodity production in Taylor County and Florida by having them visit 10 stations featuring horticulture, honey bees, strawberries and poultry, among other commodities, as part of an AgVenture field trip.
Food, Fun and Reading!
Washington County Extension will teach kindergarten, first and second graders about the nutritional value of Florida agriculture products by reading children’s storybooks and having them participate in hands on, nutritional activities.
For more information:
Lisa Gaskalla
(352) 846-1391
gaskalla@ufl.edu
